Sgt. Maj. of the Army Chandler Brings Message of Resilience, Accountability to Fort Hood

From the Army News Service

May 31, 2013

Download the PDF

FORT HOOD, Texas — Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III spent three days at the post near Killeen, Texas, this week and managed to cover a good portion of the largest military installation in the country during that time.

“I came to Fort Hood to meet with Soldiers and their families, talk to leadership, and see what’s going on at the ‘Great Place,’” he said, noting he has been stationed here a few times in his military career. “It was important for me to come down and listen to what Soldiers have on their minds, and deliver some messages from the Army leadership about where we are, where we’re going, and what we need to focus on.”

Chandler’s busy schedule included various events including a Memorial Day commemoration in Georgetown, Texas, and visits to a 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment tank range, assemblies, meals and functions in dining facilities and meeting rooms. Along the way, he had positive things to say about the Soldiers he met.

“If you think about it, most of these young men and women came in the Army after 9/11,” he said. “They volunteered to serve their nation in a time of war, knowing they were probably going to be deployed in harm’s way. I came in the Army in 1981, during the Cold War. We mostly did training. I’m not sure, if I was 18 again, if I would choose to join the service knowing that.”

“All of the services add up to about 3.1 million people,” he noted. “There are about 330 million people in our country. You got the top one percent of the American people out here doing amazing things each and every day. If you can’t get excited by that, I don’t know what’s going to get you motivated.”

Read more.

Back to Top